After missing several weeks due to a heel contusion, Bronny James, the rookie son of LeBron James, made his long-awaited return to the court. He had been sitting out to recover, but he got back into action on Saturday, playing for the South Bay Lakers in the G League, where the team was up against the San Diego Clippers. In his first game back, Bronny looked sharp, putting up his best performance yet as a pro. He scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and added 4 assists in just 21 minutes of playing time, showing off some solid skills that had fans excited.
His return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Lakers. The team had been struggling recently, going just 1-3 on a four-game road trip. After that tough stretch, the Lakers were back home in Los Angeles, gearing up for a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for Bronny to contribute and help the team get back on track. Whether he would actually get a chance to play in the game was still uncertain, but everyone was curious to see if his G League performance would translate to the NBA.
When the game started, Bronny didn’t play in the first half, but with the Lakers leading comfortably late in the fourth quarter, coach Darvin Ham decided to give him a shot. Bronny got about 2 minutes of playtime in the final moments of the game. During his time on the floor, he took two shots but missed both. He didn’t score, but he did make a nice defensive play, recording a block. In the end, the Lakers won the game 107-98, with Bronny finishing the night with 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 block, and no turnovers or fouls.
Even though his individual stats weren’t eye-popping, it was still a big moment for Bronny to get some minutes in an NBA game. It was also great for the Lakers to see their rookie back on the court, as they look to get things back on track after a rough patch. It remains to be seen how much of an impact Bronny will have going forward, but the fact that he’s back on the court and showing signs of progress in the G League is definitely a step in the right direction for both him and the Lakers.